Mental health statistics in Africa reveal a significant burden, with high rates of depression, anxiety, and other disorders. A large proportion of the population experiences mental health challenges, and the impact is felt across various sectors, including the economy. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people in many African countries, along with increased alcohol use and abuse among adolescents. A Mental State of the World Report ranked South Africa the highest in terms of the percentage of those stressed/distressed out of 64 countries. A WHO report estimates that over 116 million people in the African region are living with mental health conditions. Eleven people per 100,000 die from suicide in the African region. About 29 million people suffer from depression in Africa and according to the 2023 World Happiness Report, 17 out of the 24 countries with less happiness are found in Africa. Despite these worrying statistics –mental health programs in Africa remain grossly underfunded with limited access to care.
Today climate change, conflict, poverty, inequality and displacement are intensifying risks. Investment remains low. Mental health receives less than 2% of national health budgets on average, with little allocated to children and adolescents. In low-income countries, there are fewer than 0.01 child mental health workers per 100,000 people, and services are often out of reach. Without support, mental health conditions are negatively impacting children and young people’s (CYP) education, employment and relationships thereby limiting life trajectories.
INERELA+ advocates for a comprehensive response to the mental health needs of children and young people with a focus on strengthening policies and legislation; promoting enabling environments in homes, schools and faith communities and building preventive and care services. National laws, policies and plans are important in building systems for delivery of mental health preventative and care services.
At family level, interventions to support caregivers’ well-being and improve parenting which we offer through support groups that are facilitated by Religious Leaders make considerable contributions to preventing mental health conditions in children and youth. Our support group interventions are relevant for caregivers of young children as well as older children and adolescents. For caregivers of children with developmental delays or neurodevelopmental conditions our parenting programmes empower them to foster their children’s learning, social communication and adaptive behaviour.
Through schools we nurture well-being, inclusion and equipping students with knowledge, skills, competencies and lifestyles they need to thrive. Our school-based anti-bullying programmes and socioemotional learning are important components of a whole-school-health-promoting approach delivered to improve students’ well-being, academic performance and reduce risk behaviours, including self-harm and harmful substance use. Through faith communities we address stigma and violence. We make information and services for mental health available to children and young people and their caregivers through the health and education. Our advocacy efforts meaningfully involve children, young people and caregivers to ensure that government action meets their needs.